Blue Jays starter Hyun-Jin Ryu targets July return: report

The Blue Jays could already have a reinforcement lined up for the second half of the upcoming season.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, who started just six games for Toronto last year, is targeting a July return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June, according to a report by Jeeho Yoo from Korean publication Yonhap News.

Ryu spent the last month in Korea with his family and will now continue his rehab in the United States, according to the report.

The 35-year-old is about to start the final season of a four-year, $80 million (US) contract he signed in 2019 after finishing second in NL Cy Young voting with the Dodgers. In his first season with the Blue Jays, he posted a 2.69 ERA and finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

But the southpaw has struggled to replicate that success over the past two seasons, dropping to a 4.37 ERA in 31 starts in 2021 before recording a 5.67 ERA in his injury-shortened campaign. last year.

Without Ryu in the fold, the current Jays rotation will include Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and one from Yusei Kikuchi or Mitch White.

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